Culture Vulture: Warhol Goes to Holyrood

‘Andy Warhol: Pop, Power and Politics’ opened yesterday (Saturday 5 October) at the Scottish Parliament. It is the first exhibition of the artist’s work to take place in a Parliamentary building and includes a number of iconic works never shown before in Scotland.

The result of a collaboration between the Scottish Parliament, Carnegie UK Trust and the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the exhibition has been timed to coincide with ‘Andrew Carnegie’s International Legacy: Shaping the Future’, a week of events celebrating Andrew Carnegie’s legacy.

The Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Tricia Marwick MSP said:

“It gives me real pleasure to open this exhibition of iconic images, depicting politicians and political events from across the globe. It is important to me that the Scottish Parliament hosts exhibitions that encourage people to discuss and explore political issues, and few artists can get people talking like Warhol does.”

The exhibition contains significant pieces of Andy Warhol’s work including iconic portraits such as Lenin, Mao, Queen Elizabeth II and Andrew Carnegie. In association with the exhibition, two portraits of Andy Warhol taken by internationally acclaimed Scottish photographer Harry Benson CBE, will be on loan to the Parliament Art Collection and displayed in the UK for the first time. A number of works made by Warhol for political and environmental campaigns are also being loaned from Artist Rooms, jointly owned and managed by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland.

Angus Hogg, Chair of Carnegie UK Trust continued:

“Andy Warhol holds a special place in our hearts at Carnegie, not only because the Trust has a long history of promoting access to arts and culture, but also because Warhol received his first formal training in art through free classes offered by the Carnegie Institute in Pittsburgh.

“As many will already know, Andrew Carnegie envisioned a world of peace, well-being and opportunity, and this sentiment still rings true over 100 years on. This collaborative exhibition, which kicks off a celebration of Andrew Carnegie’s legacy, provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the public to get an up-close look to some of society’s most impactful pieces of art. “This month also provides people the chance to learn more about one of the world’s most well-known Scots through the ‘Andrew Carnegie’s International Legacy: Shaping the Future’ festival, which culminates in the gifting of the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy to today’s leading modern philanthropists. We encourage people in the city and beyond to get involved.”

“The Warhol is thrilled to share many truly exceptional works from our collection with the Scottish Parliament and the Carnegie UK Trust. The items represent the full scope of Andy Warhol’s life and art. This exhibition features Warhol paintings, sculptures, and prints from our permanent collection and allows visitors to the stunning Parliament building to have the opportunity to see many top rate original Warhols. In addition, we’re pleased to once again unite Pittsburgh and Scotland through the very rare display of Warhol’s Andrew Carnegie portrait.”

Ticket information
Tickets are still available for the exhibition, although there is limited availability at the weekends. The free e-tickets are available from 10.00am and 5.00pm daily for the run of the exhibition (late nights on Thursdays to 8.00pm).

Booking is recommended as tickets will be administered by a specific start time to the viewing (unrestricted end time) and can be done via:
• the online form via the Parliament website http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/warhol
• a dedicated telephone line on 0131 348 5454 – the telephone number references the famous New York nightclub, Studio 54, which Warhol frequented regularly during the 70s and 80s
• emailing warhol@scottish.parliament.uk